Do you know individuals or organizations who have helped lead the way in reducing homelessness in Contra Costa County or elsewhere in the Bay Area?

If so, please consider nominating them for one or more of four Awards for Reducing Homelessness. John Lozier, MSSW, Executive Director of the National Health Care for the Homeless Council, is presenting the Awards on Tuesday, May 17 at the Advocacy Luncheon of Saffron Strand's annual conference, "Sustainable Solutions to Homelessness: Integrating Employment, Health Care & Housing" at the Richmond Memorial Auditorium and Convention Center.

Each Award for Reducing Homelessness includes a $50 gift card. Winners also receive free registration to "Sustainable Solutions to Homelessness" ($275 value). The Awards:

● Homeless Citizen Achievement Award

Honoring a homeless Contra Costa citizen who has made extraordinary progress, against all odds, in improving his or her job skills, employability, and economic independence.

● Homelessness Program Achievement Award

Honoring a government, non-profit, or faith-based program's extraordinary performance over the past year in helping to reduce homelessness in Contra Costa County.

● "Voice of the Homeless" Media Award

Honoring the leadership of a San Francisco Bay Area corporate or individual print, broadcast, or web-based media source in reporting on homelessness issues most accurately and fairly over the past year.

● Homelessness Advocacy in Action Award

Honoring one person anywhere in the Bay Area who has been highly effective in advocating and achieving positive results with responsible, actionable, and sustainable solutions for homelessness.

Instructions for the nominator: For each Award nomination, please (1) identify the Award, (2) provide your nominee's full name, phone number, and e-mail address, (3) describe why your nominee should be honored with the Award, noting how your nominee meets or exceeds the intention of the Award, and (4) as nominator, provide your full name, phone number, and e-mail address.

Deadline: Please submit nominations by e-mail to yvonne@saffronstrand.org by Friday, May 6, 2011.

For more information about Saffron Strand's second annual conference, May 16-17 in Richmond, visit www.saffronstrand.org.

RYSE Center

205 41st Street

Saturday, April 30^th   

$20 - $250 purchase online here 

Workshops from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Dance Party from 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm

Remember what it was like to "Be A Kid" at RYSE's signature fundraising event! Take part in an art activity or learn how to record your own song. Enjoy complimentary hors d'oevres, cocktails prepared by St. George Spirits, and hang out with RYSE's community of supporters and donors!

Additionally, "Go green" by donating an additional amount to RYSE OUTSYDE: a project that will transform our 9,000 sq. ft back-lot into a safe outdoor space through the development of an urban garden, multi-purpose performance stage, outdoor art space, basketball court, and hangout space. If you "Go green", you'll have the chance to partake in an art activity during Be A Kid where you'll be personalizing a commemorative tile that will be incorporated in RYSE OUTSYDE's design! All RYSE OUTSYDE supporters will be listed on a donor wall.

Event Includes:

Hors d'oeuvres

2 Drink Tickets

Fun Activities

Music & Dancing

To purchase tickets by mail, send checks to:      

The RYSE Center

205 41st Street

Richmond, CA 94805

If mailing in payment, please email events@rysecenter.org with your name, Be A Kid price level, and RYSE OUTSYDE donation amount.

2nd Annual Northern California Summit on Children and Youth

Richmond Civic Center Auditorium

403 Civic Center Plaza

Thursday, May 5^th

9:00 am -4:30 pm

The Northern California Summit on Children and Youth, 2011: Healthy Families, Thriving Communities, will illustrate innovative approaches, research driven models, and best practices for supporting healthy families and building thriving communities. This annual summit provides the opportunity to learn from and share with a broad range of professionals from throughout Northern California.

Boys & Girls Club of El Sobrante

4660 Appian Way

Saturday, May 7th

5:30 pm - 9:00 pm

$40 per person, $75 per couple

Recognizing Jim Storer, retired principal & teacher at DeAnza High School

&

Martino Gonzales, proprietor of La Strada Restaurant

PAL

2200 Macdonald Avenue

Friday, May 13th

6:00 pm

$30 per person

Flyer

Join the Kiwanis Club of Richmond as we honor the Firefighter of the Year, Germain Gomez, and the Police Officer of the Year, Robert Gray, and other notable Public Safety personnel recognized by the Richmond Police and Fire Departments.

Tickets are $30 each or $350 for a table of 8. Deadline is May 6th. There will be no tickets sold at the door. After May 6th, if seats are available, the cost will be $40. Call Sandi at 510-237-5670 for information or to buy tickets.

Thanks to CHEVRON for sponsoring this years' awards

Kiwanis Day at the Races

Golden Gate Fields

Saturday, May 14th

11:00 am

Only $45 for admission to the Turf Club, valet parking and a luxurious buffet lunch.

Turf Club opens 11:00 a.m.

Lunch is served 12:00 noon

Racing begins 1:00 p.m.

Need more information?  Herb (510) 222-1269 or Floyd (510) 235-4748

Send your check or credit card information to Richmond Kiwanis,

P.O. Box 352 Station A    

Richmond, CA 94808.

All Proceeds go to support the Community projects of the Kiwanis Club of Richmond.

Vonya DeJean Middle School

3400 MacDonald Ave

Thursday, April 28^th

6 pm. to 8 pm

Reception and photo session at 5:30pm

At a time in when financing a college education is harder than it has ever been, a group of local business leaders, youth service providers and community champions will gather to support the tremendous accomplishments of Richmond's promising young scholars.

Awardees will be announced at the "Celebrating Richmond's Young Scholars Reception", hosted by the Richmond Police Activities League. The event will be held April 28th, 2011 at LoVonya DeJean Middle School located at 3400 MacDonald Ave, Richmond, CA 94804.  Talented Richmond youth will be presented with scholarships to support their post-secondary education.

Organizers of the reception anticipate 200 attendees will participate in the event to show Richmond students red carpet worthy attention. The event will feature a light buffet, and lively entertainment. The scholarship program showcases the combined efforts of Richmond civic groups to promote educational attainment and support for college bound Richmond youth. "This is a way to honor the youth in our communities that are poised to succeed," said Tamara Walker, coordinator of a series of scholarship workshops for the Richmond Police Activities League, "It's been extremely rewarding to see these young people pursue their dreams. We know that these are extremely hard times, and that means that students need more, not less help to reach their dreams of college. We just hope more businesses step up to the plate to help."

Nearly half a dozen sponsors including the Richmond Police Activities League, the George Miller Youth Fund, West Contra Costa Public Education Fund, Malvern Wilson Alumni Association, Richmond Police Officers Associations, and Guardians of Justice, and the Latino Police Officers Association have pledged to give nearly $50,000 in cash scholarships to Richmond students.

"There's still time for more businesses to contribute," said Larry Lewis, the Executive Director of the Richmond Police Activities League. Local businesses and civic groups interested in participating in the festivities by awarding scholarships at the banquet should contact the Richmond Police Activities League.

Applications are still available and can be picked up at Richmond PAL located at 2200 Macdonald Avenue, Richmond, CA. Interested students can contact RPAL coordinator, Tamara Walker at (510)-621-1226 for details.

"This is an excellent opportunity to showcase and reward the efforts of Richmond's star students. Our kids deserve the recognition and support," said Larry Lewis, the Executive Director of the Richmond Police Activities League. 

On Saturday, May 21, at 3:00 pm please join us for an amusing, entertaining and informative portrayal of icon Julia Morgan, renowned Bay Area architect widely famous for Hearst Castle.  Betty Marvin, professional historian, is Julia "live and in person".  You won't want to miss this wonderful event in the Madeline F. Whittlesey Community Room, Richmond Library, 325 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond.  Public is welcome.  Light refreshments will be served.  Info:  510-235-9056.

Collaboration with East Bay Municipal Utility District Saves 3.5 Million Gallons of Fresh Water per Day

Chevron  announced it has received an award for Recycled Water Customer of the Year at the WateReuse California Annual Awards event in Dana Point, CA.  The Chevron Richmond refinery was nominated for the award by the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) in recognition of Chevron's water-saving efforts related to the Richmond Advanced Recycled Expansion (RARE) Water Project.

"We are very pleased to have been recognized with this prestigious award by WateReuse California for this most important award," said Mike Coyle, General Manger of Chevron's Richmond Refinery. "When the East Bay Municipal Utility District proposed joining with Chevron to build a new water recycling plant at our Richmond refinery, we knew it would help with our goal to better utilize scarce water resources. We appreciate EBMUD's acknowledgment of the project and we are grateful to have been nominated by them, and even more grateful to receive this wonderful recognition."

The Chevron - EBMUD collaboration saves 3.5 million gallons of fresh water per day. Chevron uses the recycled water in their boilers to produce steam, which is used to manufacture gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and other products.  It takes about one gallon of water to process a gallon of crude oil and only extremely high-purity water can be used in the steam-making process.

"Recycled water from EBMUD cannot be used for drinking purposes," explained Coyle. "So substituting high-grade recycled water produced onsite for potable water we'd otherwise purchase from EBMUD helps make available more fresh drinking water for community use."

The RARE Water Project began construction in the summer of 2008 and was completed in July 2010. Treatment technologies such as microfiltration and reverse osmosis are used to produce recycled water that exceeds the requirements and rigorous standards set by the California Department of Public Health.